Tuesday, 3 July 2012

Tuesday 3 July

A warm and fairly sunny day, with the mercury shooting up to the princely value of 20.5C / 69F. In the meantime, the ferry is out of action with engine trouble - no sailings to or from Stornoway at all. This means that all traffic is diverted 40 miles south to Tarbert, from where the MV Hebrides plies its route to Uig in Skye. Uig is 170 miles by road from Ullapool... Fortunately, Calmac made the announcement fairly early in the day, and put on an extra sailing which is currently en-route between Harris and Skye. It is due back in Tarbert at 23.40 tonight. This is the second time within a few weeks that the MV Isle of Lewis is laid up with technical problems, leading to awkward questions from Western Isles Council to Calmac, and Calmac admitting to being red-faced over the issue.

Two RAF jets have crashed into the Moray First, north of Inverness. Two of the four crew involved remain missing, and a search is on-going for them.

This afternoon, I went on a 3½ mile walk through Stornoway and the adjacent Castle Grounds. It was pleasantly warm, sunny and very green. The return leg took me across the Golf Course (one of the hilliest in the country). I post some pics for (hopefully) your enjoyment.